Pages

16 Aug 2014

HARRILD AND SONS

London, UKHarrild
and Sons opened recently in the lower end of Farringdon street, a lifeless part
of the City of London. Anything opening there is good news, but this place has
managed to develop a really cool and suitable City style. The ground floor has
wood panelled walls, the bar shelves and light fittings are shaped from copper
tubes, and there is a 5cc cocktail bar in the basement. With a lot of
natural light as well, the space is cosy and comfortable. The restaurant
specialises in lobster and oyster, but also serve steaks, a range of
interesting sliders, and a dish that I’d like to try next time: Crab Fries with
Cheese and Aioli. On my first visit I went for the Lobster Roll with Dijon Mayo
and Fresh Oregano because I can rarely resist a lobster roll on any menu. It
wasn’t great, and didn’t have the fresh-tasting meat that you would find in Burger & Lobster or B.O.B.'s Lobster. My friend opted for the
grilled lobster instead, which she said was pretty good. Another friend vouches
for the Pulled Pork sandwich, and said he would definitely order it again. The
skin-on fries were really tasty and greasy, and I recommend them as a side to
any dish. Harrild and Sons is the kind of place where everything
sounds perfect and promising on the menu, but the flavours don't
quite deliver. Like most City places, it is closed on Sundays, demonstrating
that it is aimed at the professional clientele of the area only. It has already
become a crowded spot, popular with the nearby office workers, but will likely
remain just that. Even though it is a likeable place, the overall area has a
lot of catching up to do before it becomes a destination for London foodies.